You must fill out the form below in order
to support or oppose this bill. X

You must login or fill out the fields below for the senator to have an accurate account of the support or opposition to this bill.

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

A valid email address is required in order to confirm your account.

Home address search or enter your address manually

Street Address *

Your valid home address is used to determine which NY State Senator Represents you.

Apt/Suite/Floor (Optional)

City *

State *

Postal Code *

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Bill Amendments

Sponsor's Position

S6747 - Details

Law Section:

Correctional Services

S6747 - Summary

Requires the city of New York to close the Rikers Island correctional facility within 3 years.

S6747 - Sponsor Memo

BILL NUMBER: S6747
TITLE OF BILL :
An act authorizing the closure of the Rikers Island correctional
facility; and providing for the repeal of such provision upon
expiration thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :
This bill would mandate the closure of Rikers Island Correctional
Facilities.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
This bill requires the closure of Rikers Island correctional facility,
which is to replaced by use of other local correctional facilities.
JUSTIFICATION :
Rikers Island has become a symbol of the worst aspects of New York's
criminal justice system. On any given day, three-quarters of the
people housed on Rikers Island are awaiting trial because they could
not make bail; 90% of people housed there are people of color. In
2014, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
found that there is a "deep-seated culture of violence" at Rikers,

both between inmates, and between staff and inmates.
In April 2017, the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal
Justice and Incarceration Reform, headed by former Chief Judge
Jonathan Lipmann, concluded that closing Rikers Island is "an
essential step toward building a more just New York City." The report
recommended closing Rikers and housing its inmates at local jails
throughout New York City. This would also result in cost savings, as
the City currently spends $31 million per year transporting people
from Rikers to courthouses throughout New York City.
This bill would enact the most pressing change recommended by the
Commission, and would require the closing of Rikers by July 1, 2020.
The bill would also require that people awaiting trial and serving
misdemeanor sentences be housed in facilities throughout New York
City, closer to their attorneys, communities, and courthouses. This
legislation would represent a first step towards meaningful criminal
justice reform in New York City and across the State.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2017: New bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December 31,
2020 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
repealed.

S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6747
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
June 15, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sen. BENJAMIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT authorizing the closure of the Rikers Island correctional facili-
ty; and providing for the repeal of such provision upon expiration
thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Notwithstanding any provision of the correction law or any
other provision of law to the contrary, the city of New York shall, on
or before July 1, 2020 close the Rikers Island correctional facility,
provided, that prior to such closure, the city of New York shall estab-
lish other facilities and/or utilize other existing facilities to be
operated as local correctional facilities for the city of New York.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December
31, 2020 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
repealed.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13202-02-7

S6747A (ACTIVE) - Details

Law Section:

Correctional Services

S6747A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the city of New York to close the Rikers Island correctional facility within 3 years.

S6747A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

BILL NUMBER: S6747A
TITLE OF BILL : An act authorizing the closure of the Rikers Island
correctional facility; and providing for the repeal of such provision
upon expiration thereof
PURPOSE :
This bill would mandate the closure of Rikers Island Correctional
Facilities.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
This bill requires the closure of Rikers Island correctional facility,
which is to replaced by use of other local correctional facilities.
EXISTING LAW : n/a
JUSTIFICATION :
Rikers Island has become a symbol of the worst aspects of New York's
criminal justice system. On any given day, three-quarters of the
people housed on Rikers Island are awaiting trial because they could
not make bail; 90% of people housed there are people of color. In
2014, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
found that there is a "deep-seated culture of violence" at Rikers,

between inmates and between staff and inmates.
In April 2017, the Independent Commission on New York City Criminal
Justice and Incarceration Reform, headed by former Chief Judge
Jonathan Lippman, concluded that closing Rikers Island is "an
essential step toward building a more just New York City." The report
recommended closing Rikers and housing its inmates at local jails
throughout New York City. This would also result in cost savings, as
the City currently spends $31 million per year transporting people
from Rikers to courthouses throughout New York City.
This bill would enact the most pressing change recommended by the
Commission, and would require the closing of Rikers by July 1, 2020.
The bill would also require that people awaiting trial and serving
misdemeanor sentences be housed in facilities throughout New York City
closer to their attorneys, communities, and courthouses. This
legislation would represent a first step towards meaningful criminal
justice reform in New York City and across the State.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2017 New Bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
TBD
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
TBD
EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December 31,
2021 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
repealed.

S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6747--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
June 15, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sen. BENJAMIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules -- recommitted to
the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction in accordance
with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT authorizing the closure of the Rikers Island correctional facili-
ty; and providing for the repeal of such provision upon expiration
thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Notwithstanding any provision of the correction law or any
other provision of law to the contrary, the city of New York shall, on
or before July 1, 2021 close the Rikers Island correctional facility,
provided, that prior to such closure, the city of New York shall estab-
lish other facilities and/or utilize other existing facilities to be
operated as local correctional facilities for the city of New York.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December
31, 2021 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
repealed.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13202-03-8

Comments

Open Legislation comments facilitate discussion of New York State legislation. All comments are subject to moderation. Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity or hate speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday.

By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.